Admission Information

Self-Reported Transcript and Academic Record (STARS)

A student using his laptop in the new Judy Genshaft Honors College building.

Self-Reported TRANSCRIPT and Academic Record SYSTEM (STARS)

When you apply to USF, your academic performance will be reviewed via your self-reported transcript and academic record (STARS). You must submit your STARS to be considered for admission. It is critical that you understand and accurately complete your STARS before you submit it to the Office of Admissions.

  • With STARS, you self-report your courses and the grades you have received (or expect to receive).
  • STARS replaces the high school and college transcripts portion of your initial application.
  • Accuracy is essential because misrepresenting your grades can have severe consequences. When you're filling fill out your STARS, carefully compare it to your high school transcript and make sure they match.

Visit your for the personalized link to complete your STARS.

WHO IS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE STARS?

If you are currently attending a U.S. high school, regardless of your citizenship status, you are required to complete the STARS, but there are a few exceptions.

You should not complete the STARS if:

  • You obtained your
  • You are applying as a transfer student
  • You are an  graduating from a school outside of the U.S. (except for American-style high schools abroad and schools in Vietnam following the national curriculum)
  • You attend a high school that does not issue A-F grades or grades that can be easily converted to an A-F grade system

If you fall into one of these categories, you must submit your official transcripts to USF to support your initial application.

What if I'm An International or Overseas Student?

If you're an international or overseas student, you should complete the STARS if you:
  • Attended a high school regionally accredited in the United States and have all four years of coursework and grades on a U.S. high school transcript
  • Attended a Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) school
  • Attended a high school outside the U.S. that follows a standard U.S curriculum (i.e., American-style high schools abroad)

However, you should not complete the STARS if you...
  • Attended a secondary school outside the U.S. that follows a non-U.S. standard curriculum
  • Studied a curriculum that does not align with the standard U.S. system

If you are an international or overseas applicant who attended multiple high schools and one or more of them does not meet the criteria for STARS, submit original or official copies of your transcripts for those schools.

Is There a Tutorial to Help Me With My STARS?

Yes! The explains the entire process of completing the STARS. You will learn how to enter specific types of coursework, like dual enrollment, middle school and more.

If you have specific STARS questions, contact the .

STARS Frequently Asked Questions

How to Submit Your STARS

Where can I complete the STARS?

Submit your STARS via the STARS portal. Your contains a personalized link for you.

When do I complete the STARS?

You can start your STARS in August prior to your senior year, which is when the STARS website becomes available.

  1. Begin your first and submit it to USF.
    Please note: Your application is considered incomplete until your STARS and test scores have been received.
  2. Once you've submitted your application, you will be able to link your STARS to your application.

How do I make changes after my STARS has been submitted?

If you need to make changes to your STARS, log into the STARS website with the email and password you used to create your original STARS.

  • Please ensure that your information is as accurate as possible before you submit STARS.
  • Immediately correct any inaccuracies you notice after submitting.

When do I submit my final high school and college (dual enrollment) transcripts?

If you are admitted to USF, you must submit your final official transcripts after your graduation date. USF admissions staff will review your transcripts to ensure the information on your STARS is accurate.
Inaccuracies could have the following consequences:
  • You could lose your admission to USF.
  • Your scholarship could be reduced or rescinded.
  • Your course registration may be canceled.

Can I submit my STARS to multiple colleges/universities?

Yes, you can use your STARS at .

School-Specific Questions:

I can't find my high school. What should I do?

The STARS website uses a database of high school names sourced from the College Board. The name they gave your school may vary from what you call your school.

  • If you can't find your high school鈥檚 name, try using variants of the official school name. For example, if you attend T. South High School, search 鈥淪outh High School.鈥
  • Make sure you have selected the correct state.
  • If you still can鈥檛 find your high school, contact the Office of Admissions for help.

If I was homeschooled, do I have to submit the STARS?

Yes, if you have completed an educational curriculum created based on the traditional U.S. system.

If I attended multiple high schools, how do I fill out the STARS?

List all high schools you have attended and the years you attended them. Enter your courses and grades under the high school where each course was taken.

If you are an international or overseas applicant who attended multiple high schools and one or more of them does not meet the criteria for STARS, submit original or official copies of your transcripts for those schools.

Class/Course-Specific Questions

Should my STARS include middle school courses?

If you earned high school credit for courses you completed in middle school, include those courses on the STARS under "High School."

How should I input grades into the STARS?

Please report all grades as they are listed on your transcript/report card(s).

  • Select the appropriate Grade Scale (e.g., letter grades, numeric grades, letter and numbers, decimal grades or other) on the "Enter High Schools" screen in order to record your grades.
  • Use the Course Level field on STARS to indicate the type of course you completed or expect to complete (e.g., dual enrollment, honors, AP, etc.).
    Please note: If you have taken dual enrollment courses through a community college or university, enter those courses under "High School" with 鈥淒ual Enrollment鈥 as the course level.
  • Select the Course Length that best represents how long you took the course and how the school issues final grades (one final grade, semester grades, trimester grades, etc.).
    Please note: If you have access to both semester grades and year-end grades for a course, please enter the semester grades.

This STARS article explains how to list your grades based on Course Length.

All attempted coursework must be listed on the STARS, including coursework that received a pass/fail grade and repeated coursework.

If your grades do not fall into any of these categories, contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@usf.edu.

How should I report grades for my senior year, since I'm still taking courses?

List your senior-year courses as 鈥淚n Progress鈥 since you don't have grades associated with them.

If your schedule changes, update your STARS immediately. To make changes, log into the STARS website with the email and password you used to create your original STARS.

How should I report summer courses?

Enter the course and grade like you would any other course you took during the regular school year, but record the course as part of the preceding school year.

For example, if you took a course in the summer between 10th and 11th grade, designate the course as one you took in 10th grade.

How do I fill out the STARS if I'm graduating in three years instead of four?

Fill out coursework in the 9th grade, 10th grade and 11th grade sections. Mark your 12th grade sections as 鈥淚n Progress."